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Business News/ News / India/  With eye on China, India mandates random sampling of imported LED products
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With eye on China, India mandates random sampling of imported LED products

Clearance would be given by customs to only those consignments where the randomly selected samples have complied with the requirements of standard

India is a major importer of electronics items from China amounting to over $19 billion in FY20 with only lamps and lighting fittings accounting for $436 million Photo: Mint (Mint)Premium
India is a major importer of electronics items from China amounting to over $19 billion in FY20 with only lamps and lighting fittings accounting for $436 million Photo: Mint (Mint)

India on Thursday mandated random sampling of imported light-emitting diodes (LED) and control gears for LED products to discourage imports of electronic items from China.

“Samples will be picked up for the specified items on a random basis from randomly selected consignments and will be sent to Bureau of Indian Standards-recognized laboratories for testing of defined safety parameters", under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2012, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

“For such consignments, clearance will be given by customs to only those consignments where the randomly selected samples have complied with the requirements of standard. However, if the sample fails to meet the requirements of standard, such consignment will be sent back or will be destroyed at the cost of the importer," DGFT said.

In FY20, India imported electronic products worth more than $19 billion from China, with lamps and lighting fittings accounting for $436 million.

India is running the world’s largest domestic lighting programme and has so far distributed 360 million LED bulbs under the Unnat Jyoti Affordable Lighting for All (UJALA) scheme.

The DGFT order comes against the backdrop of India’s Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) planning to distribute 600 million LED bulbs in rural areas, Mint reported earlier.

India is also running the world’s largest energy efficiency programme, with EESL offering large procurement contracts in the energy sector, enabling businesses to leverage scale and achieve economy to bring down prices.

India is the second-largest LED market globally by value, according to EESL, and the UJALA scheme may help avoid peak electricity demand of 9,428 mega watts.

India has been tightening trade and non-trade barriers against China following a border clash in June that left 20 Indian soldiers dead and an unspecified number of fatalities on the Chinese side. In July, India had imposed import restrictions on colour television sets to encourage local manufacturing and check imports from China. It also restricted Chinese companies from participating in public procurement bids by India without approval from competent authorities, citing defence and national security concerns.

The government in April notified changes to its foreign direct investment (FDI) policy by mandating government clearance for all FDI inflows from countries with whom it shares land borders. India has also banned a host of Chinese apps, including the highly popular TikTok and PUBG.

Utpal Bhaskar contributed to this story

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Published: 17 Sep 2020, 08:52 PM IST
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